Container for liquids



June 27, 1967 A. HYNES ETAL 3,327,920

CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS Filed Oct. 23, 1965 INVENTORS D W0 A. NES dan PAUL a uulv rv BY United States Patent Filed Oct.23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,129 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) The present invention is concerned with a container of paperboard or the like, and more particularly with the infolded pouring spout area thereof.

Containers such as those of interest here are formed of paperboard and are primarily but not exclusively used in the packaging of fluids such as milk. Prior art practise was to coat the containers after they were erected with an overall coat of parafin. This practise required the maintainance of a hot bath of parafin at the packaging plant. Two disadvantages of this type of carton 'were a severe leakage problem and the presence of wax particles in the packaged fluid.

Recently a highly successful and highly commercial container, coated with a thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene, appeared on the market. This container, called the Pure-Pak, is primarily used for the packaging of milk. Its widespread acceptance is testified to by the fact that the leading paper companies are licensed to manufacture the container blanks, where are then erected into cartons for the vast majority of dairys throughout the United States.

A distinctive characteristic of the Pure-Pak package is the gable-like-design of its top closure. The closure has an extensible pouring spout infolded within one of the gables. To open the container the eaves on one side of the gablelike'closureis placed between the thumb and forefinger of each hand, then the apex or peak of the closure is pulled apart'to a point about midwaythe top closure. Thereafter, by exerting a squeezing or clamping action on the points of the outfolded eaves, the pouring spout is designed to pop out to a pouring position. The use of a thermoplastic polymer, rather than a natural hydrocarbon wax, as the coating and sealing material, eliminated coping with this problem is the application of an abhesive to the spout area as disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,116,002 issued to Crawford et al. Unfortunately the use of an abhesive has not solved the problem. It is suspected that the polyethylene sealant is forced through the abhesive film during ,the heating and clamping steps employed for sealing the rib area. This permits an undesired seal at these points.

The principal object of the present invention is to overcome the foregoing problem.

This and other objects of the present invention will be evident from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

3,327,920 Patented June 27, 1967 FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the upper portion of a blank from which the container of FIGURES 2-4 may be constructed.

FIGURES 2 and 3 are perspective views sequentially showing steps in opening the container top of the present invention and then placing the pouring spout in operating position; and,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view illustrating the construction of the other end of the gable top.

In its broadest scope the invention comprises a gable top container housing, at least within one gable, an extensible pouring spout. In the closed position the spout carries thereon an outwardly projecting three-sided pyramid.

In a more limited sense, a container made in accordance with this invention comprises a tubular body of polyolefin coated paperboard having a bottom closure and gable forming top panels thereon. The top panels include a pair of opposed roof panels connected to the body and carry, at their upper end, a rib panel. Each roof panel is inclined over the body so as to form, with other top panels, gable-like cavities at each end of the roof. A first gable cavity includes the inclined roof panels, an infolded triangular end panel, and a pair of infolded flanking triangular panels as well as respective inner rib panels.

The second gable cavity, located at the opposite end of the roof, houses an extensible pouring spout. This cavity is defined by: the roof panels; an infolded trapezoidal end panel; a pair of infolded trapezoidal fold back panels; and three outwardly folded triangular sub-panels. The trapezoidal end panel is hinged to the body and infolded therefrom whereas the fold back panels are hinged to both the end panel and the roof panels and are infolded against the underside of the roof panels.

The three triangular sub-panels form an outwardly projecting three-sided pyramid. These include a first triangular front sub-panel hinged to the trapezoidal end panel, and two triangular side sub-panels hinged to the foldback panels and said first triangular front sub-panel. The side sub-panels and the foldback panels each carry at the top an inner rib panel which is sandwiched and sealed between the outer rib panels.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that this represents a carton blank which has all the essential score lines and panels that are present in the commercial prior art blank. In addition to these essential score lines, three more score lines 37, 38 and 39 are provided. These three lines involve the essence of the invention. When the carton is erected, these score lines provide the fold lines at which triangular sub-panels 27, 28 and 29 are outfolded from the three infolded trapezoidal panels 24, 25 and 26. Two of these score lines, 38 and 39 also provide the fold lines between inner ri-b panels 32, 34 and 35, 33. As in the prior art there is a central score line providing the fold line between panels 34 and 35.

Referring now to FIGURES 2-4 for a more detailed description of the invention, there is shown a container 10 embodying the present invention. Container 10 is formed of paperboard or other suitable sheet material and coated on both sides with polyethylene or the like to render it liquid tight and heat sealable.

As illustrated, container 10 comprises a tubular body 11, roughly square in cross section, having a conventional bottom closure (not shown) and a gable-like top closure overlying and connected to body 11.

Four generally rectangular body panels 13, 14, 15 and 16 provide the tubular portion of body 11. A pair of opposed roof panels 17 and 18 are joined to body panels 14 and 16 respectively and inclined over the body 11. Roof panels 17 and 18 carry at their top, outer rib panels 30 and 31 respectively which form a center rib for sealing container 10.

A first gable cavity 19 is formed within one end of roof panels 17 and 18 by a triangular end panel 20 and a pair of flanking triangular panels 21 and 22. A second gable cavity 23 houses an extensible pouring spout within the opposite end of roof panels 17 and 18. This second cavity is defined by three infolded trapezoidal panels 24, 25 and 26 and three outfolded pyramid-forming triangular subpanels 27, 28 and 29. Trapezoidal end panel 24 is hinged to body panel 15 and to flanking trapezoidal foldback panels 25 and 26. These panels, 25 and 26, are hinged to, and infolded against the underside of, roof panels 17 and 18.

Triangular front sub-panel 27 is hinged to trapezoidal end panel 24 and outfolded therefrom and also hinged to flanking triangular side sub-panels 28 and 29. These subpanels, 28 and 29, are in turn hinged to trapezodial foldback panels 25 and 26 and outfolded therefrom.

Fold'back panels 25 and 26 and the triangular side subpanels 28 and 29 each carry, at their top, inner rib panels 32, 33, 34 and 35 respectively, which are sandwiched within the outer rib roof panels 30 and 31. Inner rib panels 34 and 35, of sub-panels 28 and 29, are hinged to each other and to inner rib panels 32 and 33 and outfolded therefrom.

The sub-panels 27, 28 and 29 are outfolded from the trapezoidal panels 24, 25 and 26 to form a three-sided pyramid when the container is sealed.

The novel construction of the present invention provides improved opening characteristics, as compared to the conventional gable top container, since less area of inner rib is sealed within the outer ribs. Not as obvious, however, is the further advantage that this arrangement provides an increased force to separate the inner rib panels and also provides a spring-like action When the roof panels are separated and bent back with a force applied across them.

Accordingly, the container is opened by first forcing apart roof panels 17 and 18 at the spout end. During this operation the adjacent surfaces of inner ribs 32, 34 and 33, 35 must obviously fold away from each other. Also, as can be appreciated, as the roof is separated, rib panels 34 and 35 must also fold away from each other and in so doing they exert a force which separates or breaks away the inner rib panels 32 and 33 from the outer rib panels 30 and 31 respectively. In addition to this separating or breaking force, a further opening force is created in the area of panels 32 and 33 which exerts a force across the bent back roof panels. The previously outfolde-d pyramidforming panels provide a spring-like forwardly directed force which moves the extensible pouring spout to an extended position.

As shown, inner rib panels 32, 33, 34, and 35 are shorter in height than the outer rib panels 30 and 31. This allows a satisfactory seal of the container without unnecessarily increasing the opening force required and furthermore provides a more sanitary spout edge. It should be obvious, however, that the inner panels may vary from short panels of sufficient height to be sandwiched between the outer ribs up to and exceeding the height of the outer ribs.

It is preferred that inner rib panels 34 and 35 be equal to or slightly shorted in length than the adjacent inner rib panels 32 and 33 so that the former, along with the pyramid apex of sub-panels 27, 28 and 29, will not extend beyond the end of the roof gable. This is desirable to insure a satisfactory sealing of the container and for the general appearance of the same.

The described panels are more clearly shown in FIG- URE 1 which illustrates the top portion of a blank adapted to be erected into the container of FIGURES 2-4. In FIGURE 1, body panels 13, 14, 15 and 16 are shown having a seam flap 36, and top closure panels as described above. The container is erected by attaching seam flap 36 to the opposite edge portion of the blank (namely the edge of body panel 16) to form a generally rectangular tube. A bottom closure, not shown, is then provided by infolding and sealing appropriate panels.

Advantageously, a heat and seal resistant material or abhesive, such as a polysiloxane gum or the like, may also be employed in accordance with the invention to further improve the opening of the container and spout. Thus, although not shown, an abhesive may be applied on a major portion of both sides of all inner rib panels to reduce their sealing or it may be applied to those areas upon which the least separating force acts during opening. For example, by applying the abhesive to only the inner surfaces of inner ribs 32 and 33 and not on other inner rib surfaces, the force of opening the latter (rib 32 from rib 34, rib 33 from rib 35 and rib 34 from rib 35) will also free inner ribs 32 and 33 from the outer ribs 30 and 31.

In addition, the abhesive may also be utilized on the inner surfaces of inner ribs 34 and 35 to reduce delamination of the paper at this point since this gives the interior of the spout an upsightly appearance. It will be noted that as in the prior art outer ribs 30 and 31 extend above the inner ribs and are sealed together.

The combined use of the prior art abhesive and the.

unique structure of the present invention constitute the preferred embodiment herein and it affords a container which will invariably open without sticking. Thus troublesome and unsanitary prying open is eliminated.

Furthermore, it should be understood that although the invention has been described in terms of a specific embodiment many different modifications are possible, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and that the present invention is not to be limited except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A gable top container of paperboard or the like comprising:

(a) a tubular body having a bottom closure;

(b) a pair of opposed inclined roof panels overlying and connected to said body;

(c) a first gable cavity by (1) a triangular end panel hinged to said body and infolded between one end of said roof panels and (2) a pair of flanking triangular panels connected to said triangular end panel and said roof panels, said flanking triangular panels infolded against the underside of said roof panels;

(d) a second gable cavity defined by (1) a trapezoidal end panel hinged to said body and infolded between the other end of said roof panels (2) a pair of trapezoidal foldback panels hinged to said trapezoidal end panel and said roof panels, said trapezoidal foldback panels infolded against the underside of said roof panels (3) a triangular front sub-panel hinged to said trapezoidal end panel and outfolded therefrom (4) a pair of triangular side sub-panels hinged to said triangular front sub-panel and said trapezoidal foldback panels, said triangular side sub-panels and said triangular front sub-panel forming an outwardly projected three-sided pyramid within said second gable cavity;

(e) a plurality of outer and inner rib panels, said outer rib panels surmounting said roof panels, said inner rib panels surmounting (1) said flanking triangular panels (2) said triangular side sub-panels and (3) said trapezoidal foldback panels;

(f) said container being sealed at least at said outer rib panels;

(g) said trapezoidal end panel, said trapezoidal fold- References Cited back panels; said triangular front sub-panel, said tri- UNITED STATES PATENTS angular side sub-panels and respective inner panels attached thereto, defining a sanitarily protected pourg' 12 66/1960 Graveno 229*17 ing spout housed in collapsed condition within said 5 2 9 19 43 Grugier 229* X 2,985,545 5/1961 Leavitt.

second gable cavity.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the paperboard 3'116'0O2 12/1963 Crawford et 229 17 has an overall surface of a polyolefin. 3'I85375 5/1965 Thomas 229 17 3. The container of claim 2 wherein said polyolefin 1s JOSEPH R LECLAIR, Primary Examiner polyethylene. 10

4. The container of claim 3 having an abhesive applied DAVIS MOORHEAD, Examinerover the surface of the lip of the pouring spout.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3,327 ,920 June 27 1967 David A. Hynes et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 27, "where" should read which Column 4, line 48, after "cavity" insert defined Signed and sealed this 12th day of August 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER,

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. A GABLE TOP CONTAINER OF PAPERBOARD OR THE LIKE COMPRISING: (A) A TUBULAR BODY HAVING A BOTTOM CLOSURE; (B) A PAIR OF OPPOSED INCLINED ROOF PANELS OVERLYING AND CONNECTED TO SAID BODY; (C) A FIRST GABLE CAVITY BY (1) A TRIANGULAR END PANEL HINGED TO SAID BODY AND INFOLDED BETWEEN ONE END OF SAID ROOF PANELS AND (2) A PAIR OF FLANKING TRIANGULAR PANELS CONNECTED TO SAID TRIANGULAR END PANEL AND SAID ROOF PANELS, SAID FLANKING TRIANGULAR PANELS INFOLDED AGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID ROOF PANELS; (D) A SECOND GABLE CAVITY DEFINED BY (1) A TRAPEZOIDAL END PANEL HINGED TO SAID BODY AND INFOLDED BETWEEN THE OTHER END OF SAID ROOF PANELS (2) A PAIR OF TRAPEZOIDAL FOLDBACK PANELS HINGED TO SAID TRAPEZOIDAL END PANEL AND SAID ROOF PANELS, SAID TRAPEZOIDAL FOLDBACK PANELS INFOLDED AGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID ROOF PANELS (3) A TRIANGULAR FRONT SUB-PANEL HINGED TO SAID TRAPEZOIDAL END PANEL AND OUTFOLDED THEREFROM (4) A PAIR OF TRIANGULAR SIDE SUB-PANELS HINGED TO SAID TRAINGULAR FRONT SUB-PANELS AND SAID TRAPEZOIDAL FOLDBACK PANELS, SAID TRIANGULAR SIDE SUB-PANELS AND SAID TRAINGULAR FRONT SUB-PANEL FORMING AN OUTWARDLY PROJECTED THREE-SIDED PYRAMID WITHIN SAID SECOND GABLE CAVITY; (E) A PLURALITY OF OUTER AND INNER RIB PANELS, SAID OUTER RIB PANELS SURMOUNTING SAID ROOF PANELS, SAID INNER RIB PANELS SURMOUNTING (1) SAID FLANKING TRAINGULAR PANELS (2) SAID TRIANGULAR SIDE SUB-PANELS AND (3) SAID TRAPEZOIDAL FOLDBACK PANELS; (F) SAID CONTAINER BEING SEALED AT LEAST AT SAID OUTER RIB PANELS; (G) SAID TRAPEZOIDAL END PANEL, SAID TRAPEZOIDAL FOLDBACK PANELS; SAID TRIANGULAR FRONT SUB-PANEL, SAID TRIANGULAR SIDE SUB-PANELS AND RESPECTIVE INNER PANELS ATTACHED THERETO, DEFINING A SANITARILY PROTECTED POURING SPOUT HOUSED IN COLLAPSED CONDITION WITHIN SAID SECOND GABLE CAVITY. 